Bumper post



5. W. HAYES BUMPER POST Feb. 11, 1930.

Filed Nov. 15, 1928 Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES mamas PATENT QFFICE STANLEY W. HAYES, F RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO HAYES TRACK APPLI- ANCE COMPANY, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA BUMPER POST Application filed November 15, 1928. Serial No. 319,711.

The invention relates to bumper posts of the kind shown and described in my Patent No. 1,705,479 which issued March 19, 1929, on copending application No. 65,823, filed October 28, 1925, and in which the shock of impact on the bumper head is taken partly by compression members extending outward, downward and backward from the bumper head to the track and partly by tension members extending outward, downward and usually forward from the bumper head and connected respectively to tension track fixtures, which are located opposite each other in the track and secured to the rails and ties, the

tension members thus serving to transmit to the tension track, fixtures the upward pull resulting from impact and through them delivering it to the rails and roadbed.

The object of the present invention is to further and more widely distribute the tension along the track both in front and in rear of the place beneath the rail at which the pull is made primarily effective on the tension track fixture and rail, and to deliver it from the tension track fixture to the under side of the ties and apply it throughout an area of considerable extent bot-h lengthwise and crosswise of the track and so to the rails, and thereby to disperse and dissipate the shock of impact more rapidly and completely and to safeguard the tension track fixture and rails against displacement, deformation or breakage and thus strengthen what is in most bumper posts the part most likely to give way.

The invention consists in a bumper post carrying out the object just stated, and in the combinations of related elements described and illustrated herein and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective of the bumper post, parts of the ties being broken away and shown in cross sec tion and by phantom lines in order to reveal the structure beneath.

Fig. 2 is adetail side elevation showing one of the tension track fixtures and the means secured thereto for further distributing the tension.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken through the track in front of the bumper post.

Fig. 4: is a large scale detail section through the rail, tension track fixture and tension distribution stringer, taken just in advance of the securing bolt, parts of the tension track fixture beneath the rail being broken away and sectioned, and

Fig. 5 is a large scale fragmentary detail plan.

As in the post of my said application the bumper head 1 is supported between the rails by compression members 2 secured to the head and to compression track fixtures S, which seat on the ties and on the rail, being spiked to the former and bolted to the latter, and being connected across the track by cross bar 4. Tension members 5 having their upper ends hooked over the bumper head in rear of its face, and extending outward, downward and usually forward therefrom, pass completely under each rail in the form of a rail-embracing hook. The pull of these tension members is sustained by tension track fixtures 6 located opposite each other in the track and each of which spans the space between two adjacent ties and seats thereon exterior to the base of the rail and on the outside of the rail web. These fixtures are spiked to the ties and bolted to the web, and each has a shoulder 7 abutting against the front of the rear tie and which obstructs movement of the fixture endwise of the rail, as does also the anchor bar 8 secured to the tension track fixture and spiked to the ties. Each tension track fixture has a body portion beneath the rail having a bearing 9 on the underside of the base of the rail, and, beneath said bearing, a seat 10 for the tension member. This seat is formed as a channel extending from the inside of the rail to the outside of the rail where it terminates in a slot 11 passing up through the fixture. The angle and curvature of the channel are such as to adapt it to receive the adjacent end 12 of the tension member bent outward and upward in hook form, preferably on a curve of long radius, so that in its passage under the rail it conforms to the seat 10 and passes 7 through the slot 11, as shown particularly in Fig. 4E and substantially as in my said application. A cross pin 13 provided with cotter pins 14 secures the end 12 of the tension memher to the tension track fixture against being drawn downward through the slot. A pipe 15 connects the tension track fixtures across the track.

The construction thus far described is substantially that of the bumper post of my said application and it is to the elements of this bumper post that I relate, in what I have found to be the most cfiective way, means for further and widely distributing the stress of impact delivered to the tension track fixtures by the tension members. To this end, I secure to each tension track fixture, as by the plate 16 and bolt 17, with washer plate 18 and nut 19, the tension distribution stringe which I prefer to construct as a composite beam composed of inverted track rails 20 clamped together by jaws 21, 22, and intermediate bolts 23. This stringer underlies the adjacent rail and track fixture and extends under and seats on successive ties, both in rear of and in front of the ties on which the tension track fixture seats, thus providing a considerable area extended both lengthwise and crosswise of the track and located botl under the rail and track fixture and beyond the outer edge of the latter. The tension distribution stringer is thus in the direct line of pull of the tension member ,5, that is, the straight portion of the tension member when prolonged cuts the stringer. It will be observed that the bolt 17 is located in the space spanned by the tension track fixture and at a point close to that at which the pull of the tension member is primarily effective, i. e. a point near the seat of the tension member on the tension track fixture beneath the rail and near the bearing of the tension track fixture on the underside of the base of the rail.

It will be understood that the construction at each track rail is the same and that it serves to stiffen the post against the strains, often severe, which it must withstand without suffering destruction or such breakage or distortion as would make its replacement in normal condition and position in the track diflicult or impossible.

I claim:

1. A bumper post having a bumper head between the rails, compression members and tension structure for distributing stress of impact therefrom to the rails and roadbed including tension track fixtures located oppoite each other in the track secured both to the rail and to the ties, and tension members adapted to transmit stress of impact to .the tension track fixtures, tension distribution stringers each underlying one of the rails and extending lengthwise of the track under and seating on successive ties adjacent one of the tension track fixtures, and means securing each said tension distribution stringer to the corresponding tension track fixture whereby tension on said tension track fixture is distributed by said stringer to the ties and rails.

2. A bumper post having a bumper head between the rails, compression members and tension structure for distributing stress of impact therefrom to the rails and roadbed including tension track fixtures located oppositc each other in the track secured both to the rail and to the ties, and tension members adapted to transmit stress of impact to the tension track fixtures, tension distribution stringers each comprising a pair of inverted rails, spaced clamps holding the rails substantially parallel to each other, each of said stringers underlying one of the rails and extending lengthwise of the track under and seating on successive ties adjacent one of the tension track fixtures, and means securing each said tension distribution stringer to the corresponding tension track fixture whereby tension on said tension track fixture is distributed by said stringer to the ties and rails.

3. A bumper post having a bumper head between the rails, a pair of compression members and a pair of tension members fixed to the bumper head and to the roadbed, a pair of tension track fixtures to which the tension members are secured located opposite each other in the track outside of and adjacent the rail and each seated on and secured to adjacent ties and spanning the space between them, tension distribution stringers each underlying one of the rails and track fixtures and extending lengthwise of the track in front and in rear of the tension track fixture and under and seating on successive ties, and means in the space spanned by each tension track fixture securing the adjacent stringer to the track fixture.

4. A bumper post having a bumper head, means for trasmitting thrust of impact therefrom to the roadbed, tension track fixtures disposed opposite each other in the track, each having a base seating on and fixed to adjacent ties, spanning the space between them and bearing on and secured to the adjacent rail and having between said ties a bearing engaging the underside of the base of the rail, and beneath it a seat for a tension member, a pair oftension members each connecting the bumper head with the roadbed, extending under the rail and seating on said seat of the adjacent tension track fixture, a tension distribution stringer for each track fixture extending lengthwise of the track under and outside of the adjacent rail underlying and seating on a series of successive ties including the two on which the tension track fixture seats, and means between the ties in the space spanned by each tension track fixture and located adjacent the said bearing and the said seat for securing the tension distribution stringer to the track fixture.

5. A bumper post having a bumper head between the rails, compression members and tension structure for distributing stress of impact therefrom to the rails and roadbed including tension track fixtures located opposite each other in the track and seating in the plane of the track beneath the rail base, and tension members adapted to transmit stress of impact to the tension track fixtures, tension distribution stringers each underlying one of the rails and extending lengthwise of the track under, and seating on successive ties adjacent one of the tension track fixtures, and means securing each said tension distribution stringer to the corresponding tension track fixture whereby tension on said tension track fixture is distributed by said stringer to the ties and rails.

6. A bumper post having a bumper head, means for transmitting thrust of impact therefrom to the roadbed, tension track fixtures secured to the base of the respective rails at points opposite each other in the track, each having between adjacen ties a bearing engaging the underside of the base of the rail, and beneath it a seat for a tension member, a pair of tension members each connecting the bumper head with the roadbed, extending under the rail and seating on. said seat of the adjacent tension track fixture, a tension distribution stringer for each track fixture extending lengthwise of the track under and outside of the adjacent rail underlying and seating on a series of successive ties including the two between which the tension track fixture bearing is located, and means in the space between the said ties and located adjacent the said bearing and the said seat for securing the tension distributio stringer to the track fixture.

7. A bumper post having a bumper head between the rails, means for transmitting thrust of impact therefrom to the roadbed, tension track fixtures each having a bearing to engage the rail and a seat beneath the rail bearing, and tension transmitting means secured to the bumper head and having portions extending down and seating on the seats beneath the rail bearings, tension distribution stringers each underlying one of the rails and track fixtures and extending lengthwise of the track in front and in rear of the tension track fixtures and under and seating on successive ties, and means adjacent the said seat securing the adjacent stringer to the track fixture.

8. A bumper post having a bumper head between the rails, means for transmitting thrust of impact therefrom to the roadbed, tension transmitting means secured to the bumper head and to the roadbed in advance of the bumper head, and tension track fixtures each having a bearing to engage the underside of the base of the adjacent rail and receiving the tension transmitting means beneath the rail in substantially the plane of the track,

specification.

STANLEY W. HAYES. 

